Tortoise Line Art and Full Color Illustrations

Highly detailed B&W line art and full color fine art prints of tortoises
made from original drawings

Accurate drawings of various types of tortoises; Bolson or Mexican
Giant Tortoise, Desert Tortoise, Galapagos Tortoise, Gopher Tortoise,
Leopard Tortoise, Indian Star Tortoise, Sulcatta, Red-Footed Tortoise,
Russian Tortoise and several other species of tortoise, some which are
critically endangered. All illustrations are hand drawn and expertly
rendered. Most illustrations are available in both line art and full
color. Signed prints made on acid-free archival paper are available
of all drawings in the gallery. If you do not see the tortoise you're
looking for please contact the artist to make a
suggestion. Custom illustrations of specific animals can be ordered
as well. For more information and pricing please call 1 (800) 913-7906
or send an email to the artist

Artist's notes:

Tortoises are very important to me, as it was with these fascinating
reptiles I started to achieve some success in field of the scientific
illustration. The people I have come in contact with through the reptile
shows strongly encouraged me to draw more and more reptiles, especially
tortoises. I recall visiting the Como Zoo when I was a kid, and being
delighted at the chance to ride them (which seems a ridiculous notion
now) Something about the anatomy of tortoises, and in fact all reptiles
in general, are really conducive to the style of illustration I prefer
to work in (foundational drawing done in ink and color added digitally)
I've knocked out many of the world's tortoises, including all but one
of the North American species, and ideally I'd like to have all extant
species drawn some day. If you have a specific tortoise in mind please
feel free to drop me an
email to
make a suggestion.

Information about Tortoises:

Tortoises - sometimes called "land turtles" - are a family of terrestrial
reptiles found in different habitats around the world, ranging from arid
deserts and scrubland to dense tropical rainforests. Like turtles, tortoises
are protected by a large, heavy shell. This shell is divided into two parts;
the plastron which is on the underside and the carapace which is the top
part. Most tortoises are diurnal or only active during the daylight hours.
Like all reptiles, they are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their body
temperatures. They must use the environment, either sun or shade to maintain
their needed body temperature. They are reclusive animals and will avoid
contact with humans and other animals if they can. Tortoises are mostly
herbivorous, feeding on grass, weeds, leafy greens, flowers and some fruits.
They will also occasionally eat small invertebrates like worms or insects.
Tortoises are very popular in the pet trade and thousands of people keep
them as pets. This has led to their decline in some areas, and now many
new and strict laws are in place to protect these the more rare and endangered
animals from going extinct in the wild.

High res digital versions of these images may be purchased
and downloaded. The artwork may also be licensed for commercial use such as
advertising, packaging, displays and other printed materials. Please review
the license agreement.